Community Champions Sponsored By Amazon
Community Champions come in many forms – from grocery workers and teachers, to the people who pack and make your deliveries, and so many others. Whether they’re on the frontline, or working behind the scenes to make sure everything is running smoothly, a Community Champion is showing up for their neighbors in a big way.
Kentucky Derby Festival and Amazon have teamed up to reward six Community Champions in and around the city, who have devoted themselves to sustained and selfless service during these unprecedented times.
Meet the 2020 Community Champions:
Cecil and Vanessa Goodwin of Mt. Washington, KY – The Goodwins created the Noel Scholarship Fund 17 years ago in memory of their son who lost his battle with cancer. Through the scholarship fund, they’ve turned their own tragedy into blessings for others. Through the scholarship fund, they work to help the most in-need population, including students in their community and within Jefferson County Public Schools. Their work has continued throughout 2020.
Jeremy Harrell of Louisville – Harrell, President of Veteran’s Club, selflessly gives of his time to help veterans throughout Kentuckiana. He works to provide services including food for homeless veterans, as well as activities to help engage local veterans within the community. Harrell is currently leading a project called Camp Restoration, which repurposes shipping containers so they can be used as housing for homeless veterans and their families.
Chaim Litvin of Louisville – Livin leads a volunteer organization at Project Friendship, a local non-profit that provides clothing and other items to those in need. Under his leadership, the organization has been able to donate more than $1 million worth of clothing to those in the community who need it most. Livin also worked to open “Friendship Corner” inside Norton Children’s Oncology Department to help provide additional services and help meet the needs of their patients.
Alli Overfield of Louisville – Overfield, a pediatric nurse at Norton Children’s Hospital on the oncology floor, works to care for both her pediatric patients and their families. Overfield helped spearhead a drive to collect toiletry items for family members who often spend nights at the hospital with their children. After receiving an overwhelming response for donations, she turned her home into a donation center where she collects basic items for parents including toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, shaving kits and other necessities.
Brooklyn Roller of Cox’s Creek, KY – Roller began began volunteering with the non-profit Ardi’s Bears when she was 7-years-old. The organization provides teddy bears for children in hospitals. Roller, now 18-years-old, has collected over 3,500 bears that have been given to kids throughout Kentuckiana. She’s also started her own Teddy Bear project and partners with The Dream Factory to send a smile through a teddy bear to children around the country.
Rogerio (Roger) Torres of Lexington, KY – Torres came to Kentucky from Brazil to start a family and a ministry devoted to helping the immigrant and refugee population in our community. Working in Louisville, he offers worship services without language barriers to help provide sojourners spiritual comfort. With degrees in Divinity and Law, Torres also provides free counsel to those in the community who seek naturalization. He offers his time and support to those families in need as they try to make their home in a new country.
What makes a Community Champion? Judges looked at the following Criteria when making their selection:
- How did your nominee create a special experience for someone in our community, or show a high level of commitment to supporting others and our community through their actions?
- How has your nominee made an impact through his/her/their work, or made a difference to those being helped.
- How has your nominee initiated and exemplified the virtue of good citizenship through his/her/their actions and activities?
- How has the nominee enriched the lives of others through his/her/their actions, particularly those who are vulnerable or less able to help themselves.
- How has the nominee displayed a commitment to sustained and selfless service to others and our community?
- Was this an outstanding achievement? Indicate any extraordinary circumstances or challenges the nominee faced.
